Top 5 Great Temple in Korea-Information

There are total 954 traditional temples in Korea which are officially registered at concerned authority in 2014. They are 58 temples in Seoul City, 32 temples in Pusan City, 18 temples in Daegu City, 8 temples in Incheon City, 5 temples in Kwangju City, 4 temples in Daejeon City, 11 temples in Ulsan City, 8 temples in Sejong City, 110 temples in Kyeonggi Province, 47 temples in Gangwon Province, 83 temples in Chooncheongbuk Province, 73 temples in Choongchoengnam Province, 113 temples in Jeonbuk Province, 95 temples in Joennam province, 176 temples in Kyeongbuk Province, 101 temples in Kyeongnam Province and 12 temples in Jeju Province. They appointed top 5 temples in reference to annual visitors, historical background, construction style, scenery and harmony with nature and Buddhist records. Thyme selected top 5 but add one barely missing temple (Guinsa Temple) in total evaluation score.

1. Tongdosa Temple  (location:  Yangsan City , Kyeongsanbuk Province)

This temple has been constructed by Jajang Yeulsa (Auditor Month) in 15 years at Seondeok Woman King Period which is holding Buddhist treasure (real Buddha Crystal). It is known that Buddha crystal was personally brought by Jajang Yeulsa when he visited Dang Country (Old China). This temple was the first temple which was keeping real Buddha Crystal in Korea. There are total 65 temple houses including 13 annex temples which is tremendous scale temple. We called top 5 temples in Korea as Tongdosa Temple, Songgwangsa Temple, Beomeosa Temple, Whaeomsa Temple and Haeinsa Temple which is typical temple in Korea. 

 

2. Haeinsa Temple (location:  Hapcheon City, Keongsannam Province)

Tongdosa Temple has been reputed as a real Buddha crystal. While Haeinsa Temple has been widely known as Buddhist Scripture Temple which we call  Palmandaejangkyeong (Carved Buddhist Scriptures on Wood). This temple is consisting with 150 relevant temple house at 56,469㎡ which is 2^nd biggest temple in Korea, just next to Tongdosa Temple. 

  

3. Songgwangsa Temple (location:  Gurae District, Jeonnam Province)

There are two Songgwangsa Temple in Korea, the one at Gurae and the other at Wanju in Jeonbuk province. We are talking about the one temple here. This temple has been reputed as outstanding old months which we used to call month treasure temple. There are total 16 national month from this Songgwangsa Temple who were nominated as teacher month in the country. Haerin, Great Month had built as Gilsagnsa hermitage at this area around end of Shilla Dynasty and Gineul, assistant national month moved Jeonghaesa Temple to this area at middle of Goryeo Dynasty and merged with Songgwangsa Temple. As known as many national month from this temple, they are broadly situated at 44,297㎡ which is 3^rd position after Haeinsa Temple. We used to call top three temples in Korea as Tongdosa Temple, Haeinsa Temple and Songgwangsa Temple. 

           

4. Beomeosa Temple (location:  Geumjeong Gu in Pusan City)

This temple had been constructed by Ueisang National Month at Munmu King Year 678 in Shilla Dynasty which is last temple at top five temples in Korea. This temple was destroyed by fire and during war against Japanese Invasion which was rebuild in 1613. Thereafter there were many small and big renovations which comes big temple as present scale. Beomeosa means from one of legend as gold color fishes came down to Beomeosan Mountain pond with riding five colorful clouds and played there at the pond. 

5. Hwaeomsa Temple (location: Gurae District, Jeonnam Province)

This temple is the last temple on the list of top five temples in Korea which was built by Yeogi Month at Seong King Year 643 in Shilla Dynasty. Whaeom means name of one of Buddhist Scrimptions. Euisang National Month built Gakhwangjeon (Annex Temple House) at Seong King Year 677 in Shilla Dynasty and left Whaeomkyeong at the Gakhwangjeon engraving at wooden panel. This temple has been growing time by time and becomes 25,994㎡ scale. As explained at Beomeosa Temple story, this temple had been destroyed during the war against Japanese Invasion which was rebuilt in 1606 and registered as historical temple as No 505 at Dec 21, 2009. 

6. Guinsa Temple (location: Danyang District in Choongbook Province)

There is one more temple which was barely missing at the Top Five Temples in Korea. This Guinsa temple is actually wider than Tongdosa Temple (Top 1) in land scape. Therefore we add this Guinsa Temple at the list as 6^th raking. This temple is possible to accommodate 50,000 people at a time which takes at least more tow hours for briefly going through. There are 40 buildings containing various convenient facilities and cultural spaces. It is regret we could not include this temple at the top five list since they are not so long historic background which is scarcely revealing old traditional feel and mood.